1. Describe the stasis in the play: where, when, who, what, etc. in a paragraph.
The play begins introducing the actors within the theater, making the theater the setting. But the plot begins in the Hollywood hills, where Vincent Chang and Bradley Yamashita meet and discuss their careers as actors.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion comes when Vincent and Bradley meet again after their acting class and the two have obvious ill feelings for each other. Vincent calls out Bradley for calling him a "Chinese Steppin Fetchit", and Bradley discusses his feelings about the appropriation of Asian actors. This defines their relationship for the rest of the play as the two continue to debate this but also somehow come to an agreement and can get along in some aspects, almost like a father son relationship.
3. What is the unique factor?
The play is not just one ongoing plot, but rather a jump around the lives of Vincent and Bradley, focusing only on when the two interact with each other or when there is a big moment in their personal lives that could potentially cause a stir between the two. The two are the only characters and they are so important that the setting barely matters at all to the point where lights are the most important prop.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Bradley get more roles? For that matter, will he be more open to roles that could potentially appropriate his culture? The answer to this is yes, in the end he takes a role as a waiter, but claims he will convince the producers to have him less appropriated or else ask for a higher pay. Will Vincent start to see things more from Bradley's view? He does as he turns down a role for the first time as an evil villain, and chooses one instead that will reflect his actual life in the past.
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
The first exposition is the most obvious one in the beginning where we are introduced to the characters and their backgrounds. The next exposition comes when Vincent is training Bradley in Shakespearean acting. This is when the father-son relationship starts to unfold some more, and Bradley opens up to Vincent, telling him about his past. This sets a tone between the two for the rest of the play as Bradley trusts Vincent enough to keep his secrets and care enough to listen.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment of the play comes when Bradley realizes that Vincent betrayed his trust by telling people that he had stabbed someone. This is a moment of action as Bradley is angry and wanted to act violently, but is taken aback when Vincent is quiet and bursts out to tell him that his friend had overdosed and there were other things out there more important than Bradley's career. This moment of tension came as a shock to the audience but also a sense of relief as the two were able to calm down quickly.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
A big theme of the play is staying true to yourself, not what society labels you. On the other hand, the theme reminds us to take pride in our cultures without letting others take advantage of this to the point where we become caricatures of ourselves. It also carries a theme that tells us to look at people for their abilities rather than their appearances or their past or their stereotypes. It is important to keep an open mind and listen to others rather than staying stubborn and sticking to the same mindset that may not even be correct, in the end.
8. Choose one of the two characters in the show and tell me why you decided to choose to discuss him. Then articulate what he wants and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of him getting what he wants?
Bradley wants to have a successful career. In this, he does not believe he will be successful unless he is able to represent a simple human being rather than representing the Asian stereotype he is given, despite his being a third generation American citizen. The biggest thing getting in his way is the stereotype itself as most roles he is offered fit this description. On the other hand, he is holding himself back by refusing to take roles to make himself more visible to the public and other potential producers. He feels as though Vincent is holding him back, when he is only trying to help. He is so tied up in his feeling that society is against him that he refuses to make any strides that are not given to him until he follows Vincent's advice later on.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The play begins and ends with the image of the stars, which gives a sense of nature, peace, and togetherness, for this is a moment for the two to bond over one thing that remains unchanging. Another image is that of the two characters acting in the Godzilla play. With the image of the costumes and the crazy acting, it seems to reflect an image of hysteria and goofiness between the two. The scene where the two sit in the rain sipping coffee is an apparent image because it is very simple, relatable, also peaceful as the stars were before. This shows comfort between the two as they can sit, watch, and listen, sharing the same enjoyable moments.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
There are no family relationships in the play as the two have no mention of their families until brief memories here and there. The two are very independent but end up having their own special kind of underlying family relationship as the complicated mentor/mentee relationship starts to reflect that of a father and son.
The play begins introducing the actors within the theater, making the theater the setting. But the plot begins in the Hollywood hills, where Vincent Chang and Bradley Yamashita meet and discuss their careers as actors.
2. What is the intrusion?
The intrusion comes when Vincent and Bradley meet again after their acting class and the two have obvious ill feelings for each other. Vincent calls out Bradley for calling him a "Chinese Steppin Fetchit", and Bradley discusses his feelings about the appropriation of Asian actors. This defines their relationship for the rest of the play as the two continue to debate this but also somehow come to an agreement and can get along in some aspects, almost like a father son relationship.
3. What is the unique factor?
The play is not just one ongoing plot, but rather a jump around the lives of Vincent and Bradley, focusing only on when the two interact with each other or when there is a big moment in their personal lives that could potentially cause a stir between the two. The two are the only characters and they are so important that the setting barely matters at all to the point where lights are the most important prop.
4. What is the dramatic question that should be answered by the end of the play?
Will Bradley get more roles? For that matter, will he be more open to roles that could potentially appropriate his culture? The answer to this is yes, in the end he takes a role as a waiter, but claims he will convince the producers to have him less appropriated or else ask for a higher pay. Will Vincent start to see things more from Bradley's view? He does as he turns down a role for the first time as an evil villain, and chooses one instead that will reflect his actual life in the past.
5. Provide an illustration of the two kinds of exposition that the play has in it.
The first exposition is the most obvious one in the beginning where we are introduced to the characters and their backgrounds. The next exposition comes when Vincent is training Bradley in Shakespearean acting. This is when the father-son relationship starts to unfold some more, and Bradley opens up to Vincent, telling him about his past. This sets a tone between the two for the rest of the play as Bradley trusts Vincent enough to keep his secrets and care enough to listen.
6. Identify the most theatrical moment in the play and of what importance it seems to be.
The most theatrical moment of the play comes when Bradley realizes that Vincent betrayed his trust by telling people that he had stabbed someone. This is a moment of action as Bradley is angry and wanted to act violently, but is taken aback when Vincent is quiet and bursts out to tell him that his friend had overdosed and there were other things out there more important than Bradley's career. This moment of tension came as a shock to the audience but also a sense of relief as the two were able to calm down quickly.
7. List some of the themes of the play.
A big theme of the play is staying true to yourself, not what society labels you. On the other hand, the theme reminds us to take pride in our cultures without letting others take advantage of this to the point where we become caricatures of ourselves. It also carries a theme that tells us to look at people for their abilities rather than their appearances or their past or their stereotypes. It is important to keep an open mind and listen to others rather than staying stubborn and sticking to the same mindset that may not even be correct, in the end.
8. Choose one of the two characters in the show and tell me why you decided to choose to discuss him. Then articulate what he wants and what are some obstacles that stand in the way of him getting what he wants?
Bradley wants to have a successful career. In this, he does not believe he will be successful unless he is able to represent a simple human being rather than representing the Asian stereotype he is given, despite his being a third generation American citizen. The biggest thing getting in his way is the stereotype itself as most roles he is offered fit this description. On the other hand, he is holding himself back by refusing to take roles to make himself more visible to the public and other potential producers. He feels as though Vincent is holding him back, when he is only trying to help. He is so tied up in his feeling that society is against him that he refuses to make any strides that are not given to him until he follows Vincent's advice later on.
9. Describe some possible images in the play and how does the title help us understand the play.
The play begins and ends with the image of the stars, which gives a sense of nature, peace, and togetherness, for this is a moment for the two to bond over one thing that remains unchanging. Another image is that of the two characters acting in the Godzilla play. With the image of the costumes and the crazy acting, it seems to reflect an image of hysteria and goofiness between the two. The scene where the two sit in the rain sipping coffee is an apparent image because it is very simple, relatable, also peaceful as the stars were before. This shows comfort between the two as they can sit, watch, and listen, sharing the same enjoyable moments.
10. Briefly define the family relationships that are examined in the play.
There are no family relationships in the play as the two have no mention of their families until brief memories here and there. The two are very independent but end up having their own special kind of underlying family relationship as the complicated mentor/mentee relationship starts to reflect that of a father and son.